ppl. a. Forms: 4–5 lett(e)rid(d, -yd, 4–6 lett(e)red, Sc. letterit, -yt, 5–6 letterd(e, 6 Sc. lettiret, 4– lettered. Also 4 y-lettrede. [f. LETTER sb.1 or v. + -ED.]
1. Acquainted with or instructed in letters; learned, literate, educated.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 7894. Prest wel y-lettrede ys to blame, Þat [etc.].
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 4088. A ful loueli lady lettered at þe best.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxvii. (Machor), 957. Twa of Irland þat … sum dele letteryt ware.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 2241. Lettrid berne Quare-to feynys þou þis fare?
1481. Caxton, Godfrey, clxi. 238. Peter bertilmewe, clerk and but litil lettred.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot. (1858), II. 684. Ane letterit man profound in all science.
1561. Daus, trans. Bullinger on Apoc. (1573), 12. Agaynst those lettered heretickes Iohn speaketh playnly.
1571. Hanmer, Chron. Irel. (1633), 125. They inquired not whether … their Ministers were lettered.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., V. i. 48. Mounsier, are you not lettred?
1605. Camden, Rem., Epigr., 14. A man well borne and better lettered.
1689. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), III. 305. London, abounding with so many wits and lettered persons.
1713. Steele, Guardian, No. 94, ¶ 5. The lettered coxcombs without good-breeding give … just occasion to rallery.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, No. 2, ¶ 14. It may not be unfit for him who makes a new entrance into the lettered world … to suspect his own powers.
a. 1822. Shelley, Def. Poetry, Pr. Wks. 1888, II. 17. The bucolic writers, who found patronage under the lettered tyrants of Sicily and Egypt.
1855. Milman, Lat. Chr. (1864), II. 3. The unlettered barbarians willingly accepted the aid of the lettered clergy.
absol. 1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. I. 125. Lereþ hit þis lewed men for lettrede hit knoweþ.
c. 1425. Eng. Conq. Irel., lvii. 134. He … toke, both of letred & of lewed, þe cursed tallages of gold & of siluer.
1433. Lydg., S. Edmund, App. 374. Symple and lettryd ther heedys did enclyne.
2. Of or pertaining to learning or learned men; characterized by learning or literary culture.
1709. Prior, To Dr. Sherlock on Death, 31. Wit may admire, and letter’d Pride be taught.
1775. Johnson, West. Isl., Wks. X. 317. And entertained with all the elegance of lettered hospitality.
1798. S. Rogers, Ep. to Friend, 137. This sheltered scene of lettered talk.
1826. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, I. i. He was a man of lettered tastes.
1850. Hawthorne, Scarlet L., Introd. (1883), 45. This was my all of lettered intercourse.
1875. Tennyson, Q. Mary, II. i. He loved the more His own … letter’d peace.
3. Composed of a (specified) number of letters.
1608. Willet, Hexapla Exod., 346. That foure lettered name of God.
4. Inscribed with letters; spec. of a book: Having the title, etc., on the back in gilt or colored letters.
1665. J. Webb, Stone-Heng (1725), 163. A letter’d and straight and long Order denotes … the Conflicts of Combatants.
1707. Lond. Gaz., No. 4293/3. Gilt-back, and Letter’d.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 463, ¶ 6. I observed one particular Weight lettered on both Sides.
1740. Dyer, Ruins Rome, 324. Pboebus’ letter’d dome.
1746–7. Hervey, Medit. (1818), 12. The next thing which engaged my attention was the lettered floor.
1809. R. Langford, Introd. Trade, 80. Hervey’s Meditations, calf lettered.
a. 1813. A. Wilson, Th. Church-yard, Poet. Wks. (1846), 13. I woo thee, thoughtful, from this letter’d stone.
1868. Browning, Ring & Bk., I. 82. One glance at the lettered back.
1872. W. S. Symonds, Rec. Rocks, vi. 169. Camden, who speaks of a lettered stone he saw.
